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TeamLet's Get Ready's programs are really run by the 140 part-time program directors and the 1400 trained volunteers each year who spearhead LGR programs in their communities. However, these student leaders are trained and extensively supported by a small central staff: Lauri Novick, Executive Director Lauri joined LGR in October 2005 and brings a broad range of experience from both the non-profit and corporate communities. Previously, she served for two years as the Executive Director of the American Friends of Sheba Medical Center (the largest hospital in Israel) and for six years as the Executive Director of The ALS Association Greater New York Chapter. Prior to her work in the non-profit field, Lauri was an Assistant General Counsel with Barclays Bank PLC and an attorney with Kaye Scholer. She received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and her J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Lauri has a deep passion for helping under-served youth and for the last twenty years has served on the Divisional Board of the Rita and Stanley H. Kaplan House, a residential treatment facility for troubled teens and young adults. She sits on the Board of Directors of Areyvut and is active in other community organizations. lnovick@letsgetready.org Brian Dever, Director of Development Brian leads Let's Get Ready's fundraising efforts through individual donations, foundation and corporation grants, and events (including an annual gala first held in 2007). Since 2004, LGR has quadrupled its annual income and the number of students served. Brian also serves on the Board of the NYC Venture Philanthropy Fund. Brian came to LGR from Minnesota where he served as the Executive Director of the Northfield Union of Youth. A graduate of Carleton College, Brian received the Sister Pat Kowalski Leadership Award for his efforts to bring service-learning to Carleton and to incorporate it into the college's curriculum. Brian has also volunteered with LGR several times as a Coach. bdever@letsgetready.org Bill Janes, Director of Finance and Operations Bill, our Director of Finance and Operations, comes to Let's Get Ready after taking early retirement from Citibank. While at Citibank he was a Group Vice President responsible for developing Financial Management systems. Bill brings a passion for nonprofit finance developed through having worked with Hour Children, Computers for Youth and PENCIL. Bill is an avid fan of collegiate wrestling and enjoys reading anthropological interpretations of the history of the Hebrew bible. bjanes@letsgetready.org Rachel Cleaver, Director of Programs Rachel joined LGR in September 2008 after working for six years as Program Director of the Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund, a college preparatory mentoring, internship, SAT prep and college support program for Washington D.C. public high school students. A graduate of Vanderbilt University with a degree in education and a former lead member of the Double the Numbers Initiative in Washington, D.C., she has extensive experience in helping under-served high school students through the college application progress, including curriculum design and program management. Rachel has a strong passion for social justice issues learned from and supported by a family of protesters and fighters for equality. This led to her career beginning as an Americorps/VISTA and continues through the work she does today. As a transplant to New York, she continues to explore the city and find new adventures. rcleaver@letsgetready.org Nakia Navarro, New England Regional Director Prior to joining Let's Get Ready, Nakia served as the Director of Development at Elizabeth Seton Academy in Dorchester, serving a large number of first generation college bound students. She has also held development positions with the American Red Cross, Community Food Rescue in Charlotte, N.C. and was the CEO of The I.R.I. Group, Inc. She even launched her own destination-wedding magazine! Nakia originally hails from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, She received her Bachelor's degree in Public Administration with a minor in Spanish from Winthrop University, a Certificate in Global Communications from the University of Salamanca, and is currently working on her Master's in Public Administration. nnavarro@letsgetready.org Sneha Subramanian, Mid Atlantic Program Manager Sneha joined LGR in November 2007 after completing a yearlong AmeriCorps service with Jumpstart for Young Children in San Francisco. Working with the program team at Jumpstart, she brings her programmatic knowledge to support the program team here at LGR. Having worked directly with youth and children throughout her college career, Sneha hopes to someday work internationally towards youth development and education issues. Sneha earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Redlands in International Relations, French and Race and Ethnic Studies and recently completed her Masters degree in Educational Leadership, Politics, & Advocacy at NYU.In addition she currently sits on the Alumni Association Board of Directors for the University of Redlands. She is extremely excited to be a part of the LGR team! ssubramanian@letsgetready.org Steve Waniak, Mid Atlantic Program Manager Steve joined the Let's Get Ready staff in June 2010, but was not new to the organization by any means. During his junior year at Boston College, Steve applied to be a Site Director at their LGR site and he held this position for three consecutive semesters. After graduating in 2009, Steve worked as the evening Education Coordinator for the Lincoln Technical Institute. Utilizing the skills and expertise learned in this role, as well as his comprehensive involvement with LGR in the past, Steve stepped into his current position as the Program Manager in NY. From South Brunswick, New Jersey, he is an avid reader, a distinguished badminton player, and a Greek mythology enthusiast. Steve is thrilled to be continuing with Let's Get Ready and brings a sincere level of devotion and creativity to the organization every day. swaniak@letsgetready.org Sonia Miranda-López, New England Program Director Sonia Miranda-López is originally from the Boston area and has been involved with LGR for many years, starting with her experience as a high school student in one of the first LGR classes with LGR's founder, Jeannie Rosenthal. After high school, while a student at Harvard College, she co-directed and coached for several LGR summer programs and, upon graduation, joined the staff of the Boston Higher Education Resource Center (HERC). During her time at the HERC, she led an after-school college-prep program, managed the Center's SAT prep classes with LGR, and counseled high school students and parents to prepare them for the challenges of the transition from high school to college. She has also taught middle and high school Spanish at Boston Trinity Academy and led LGR coach trainings to prepare our wonderful college students for their own work in the classroom. She is deeply passionate about working with the LGR team and profoundly committed to developing the youth in our communities and empowering them to pursue their dreams. smirandalopez@letsgetready.org Alysha Banerji, New England Program Manager Originally from New Delhi, India, Alysha came to the United States to attend Hamilton College. After graduating in May 2011, she joined the Let's Get Ready team as a Program Associate. Prior to this, Alysha volunteered with LGR as a CR/W coach during the summer of 2010, and then went on to start and direct a new chapter of the program at Hamilton. A Philosophy major and Spanish minor, Alysha has had lifelong passions for reading, language learning and traveling! abanerji@letsgetready.org Brooke Sword, New England Development Associate Kate Rimsky, Development Manager Kate began with Let's Get Ready as a math Coach in the summer of 2007 and is now a member of their Development team. After graduating from Union College in 2009, Kate entered the inaugural class of Mayor Bloomberg's NYC Civic Corps where she served as an AmeriCorps member with the City Department of Parks & Recreation to increase volunteering and civic engagement throughout New York. Kate is passionate in her commitment to give back and is thrilled to have joined Let's Get Ready in their efforts to provide more opportunities for New York City high school students. krimsky@letsgetready.org Eugenie Rosenthal, Founder Eugenie founded LGR following her sophomore year at Harvard College. She has served in all roles in the organization, from classroom Coach to Site Director, to Executive Director. Eugenie was Let's Get Ready's first Executive Director until August 2005. Currently, she sits on the Board of Directors where she chairs LGR's Programs Committee. |